(VOVworld)- Preparations for the 14^th National Assembly election, set for May 22, are under way. The Vietnam Fatherland Front has organized consultative meetings to nominate candidates for the election.

The first consultative meeting on the 14th National Assembly election opens in Hanoi

The first consultative meeting on the number of candidates to be nominated by central agencies for the 14^th National Assembly election was held in Hanoi last week. Many other provinces and cities have held consultative meetings to prepare for the election.

Consultative meetings nominate eligible candidates

The Vietnam Fatherland Front has the right and responsibility to participate in and make the election democratic, fair, lawful, and safe. To this end, it’s necessary to ensure that consultative meetings are democratic, lawful, and prompt. Nguyen Van Pha is Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front: “We ask localities to abide by Article 8 of the Election Law to ensure a minimum rate of 35% female candidates and 18% ethnic minority candidates. The Fatherland Front Standing Committees at various levels need to work with the People’s Councils in nominating their representatives”.

At its first consultative meeting, the Vietnam Fatherland Front agreed on the structure and number of candidates nominated by central agencies. The number of NA deputies representing central agencies will be 198. Quang Ninh, Dien Bien, Tien Giang, and Dak Lak province have held their first consultative meetings on the 14^th NA election. Do Thi Hoang is Vice Secretary of Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee: “One day after the national conference on the 14^th NA election, Quang Ninh province held its first consultative meeting. The People’s Councils and the Fatherland Front worked out a plan to allocate candidates based on local population and socio-economic situation.”

Abiding by the Election Law

The 14^th NA election will carried out under the 2015 Law on the Election of the NA and People’s Councils. Under the law, Fatherland Fronts at all levels need to ensure a surplus number of candidates for the election. Mr. Pha says the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee instructed localities to abide by the law in nominating eligible candidates. Pha says the Fatherland Front will work closely with relevant agencies to deal with any problems that arise: “Nominating candidates is a strict procedure involving not just the Fatherland Front. Agencies and localities need to organize their consultative meetings and be responsible for their nominations. There are some specific regulations for nominating full-time deputies and deputies who are Party members”.